1. To the Aggressor Go the Spoils
The cornerstone of run blocking is aggressiveness. The blocker must hit the defender first and with sufficient force to the drive them backwards. The minute you throw a passive run block is the minute the play call fails. Unlike pass blocking, run blocking relies on the blocker to make a hole in the opponent's line for the running back to scamper through.
2. Drive Blocking Off the Snap
To be a successful run blocker, you have to be part road grader and part psychic. Not only do you have to be an aggressive drive blocker, but also you have to anticipate what the defensive player is going to do and when the snap of the football is coming. Anticipating the snap is easier because most football teams have a snap count that will tell a player when the snap is coming. Predicting what the defensive player is going to do is a bit tougher. First, you must study film of the opposing defense to learn the favorite moves of the opposing players. Then, you need to know what defense they are in and what that player's responsibilities are in the defense.
3. Take a Stance
An offensive lineman must establish a proper stance prior to the snap in order to have sufficient balance to power into the opposing defender. The most common stance in run blocking is a three-point stance. In the three-point stance, you bend your knees and put one hand down on the ground for balance. The weight should be forward slightly with a lowered posterior and the back over your toes. Spread the feet a little less than a shoulders width apart. The stance will take time to perfect, and there are variations, but the most important things are comfort, balance and explosion out of the stance. The two-point stance is a common stance for pass blocking, and the four-point stance is for goal-line situations.
4. Keep Your Head Up
There is tendency for players to duck their head when making contact in football, especially in run blocking. This is a mistake on several fronts. First, lowering your head can cause a neck or spine injury during a collision. Secondly, a blocker cannot see the field or any of the oncoming players that lead to a missed block. Always keep your head, stay alert on the field and never lose your vision on the field of play.
5. Finish What You Started
When you are blocking for a running play, always finish the assigned block. Finishing a block means that the player you are blocking should have no chance of being in on a tackle. So, never assume that just because the running back has run by you that you can ease up on your run block. The minute you ease up, the play may reverse field and come back in your direction. If you have released your blocking assignment, then that player may be able to tackle the runner.
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